1952 Packard & 1949 Fazer

[Jeri Conklin]

I found a 1952 Packard in really good shape (motor runs, clear title, transmission in reverse works well, forward not so well; floor rusted) for $750 obo. I need a back seat for my 1949 Frazer and I know Packard parts were sometimes interchangeable. Does anyone know if this Packard would be a possible fit for a back seat, gas tank and some miscellaneous bits and pieces to use on my Frazer? I don't know much about Packards and the designs may have changed too much by 1952 to be a good fit, but finding Frazer parts in Northern California is slim to none and this is just up the road. Thank you all in advance for your wisdom.

[pnw_oldmags]

If you are looking for K-F Parts in Northern California I would suggest you talk with Bob Gilzean in Chico CA.  I believe he is only 60 miles from you and should be able to assist you.  His # is 530-343-4933.  He is very active in the Eldorado Region of the KFOCI.

[Jeri Conklin]

I've spoken with Bob and he is aware of what I'm looking for, we just haven't found them yet. I just knew packard parts were at one time interchangeable with the Frazer so I was thinking it might be worth it to just get the packard and part it out into my Frazer at least for the gas tank and back seat. I'm all for restoring it with original Frazer parts to the extent I can get them without having to pay an arm and a leg and driving outside of California.

[joefrazer]

The Packard seat won't swap with the Frazer...but some of the mechanical parts will. Starters for 47-8 Packards will swap with the Frazer as will regulators and a few other items.
There is a fellow in Idaho who has quite a few KF cars and may have what you need. Send me an email to joefrazer51<at> yahoo.com and I'll pass along his contact info.
It's too bad you're on the other side of the continent from me...I'd be interested in that Packard!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Is the Packard automatic or manual transmission?

The others are correct...some mechanical parts ONLY may swap between the Packard and some K-F products (not necessarily a 1949 Frazer).  This was a time when the management of Packard began moving away from interchangeable components to help the dealers build parts and service business.

[Jeri Conklin]

I don't know if it is manual or automatic but will check tomorrow when I go take digital pictures. I was hoping to get the radio, back seat and gas tank from it if the parts were interchangeable as that is most of what I need for my 1949 Frazer.

[Jeri Conklin]

I have digital pictures if anyone is interested. It is a Packard ultimatic and appears to be an automatic as it has the D R P etc in a little thing on top of the steering wheel. If anyone is interested I'll post the pictures. The only window missing is the driver side window. The back window has no cracks, the front one has a crack in the driver's side corner.

[Jeri Conklin]

Oops, it is an ultramatic, not an ultrimatic. Sorry.

[joefrazer]

Jeri, try Rudy Phillips at 760.789.3608 for what you're looking for. He's near San Diego...I know it's not nearby...but at least it's the same state! And, yes please post the Packard pix...I need to satisfy my curiosity!

[kaiserfrazerlibrary]

Please be advised that when Packard's engineers designed the Ultramatic, they cut corners on things like the bearings.  According to an article published some time ago in OLD CARS WEEKLY, the diagnostics on the gear box required a special tester and was supposed to take 4 hours to cycle through the tests.  Last time I heard a price for a truly good rebuilt Ultramatic was in the late 1990's (one of the engineers at Madison-Kipp had a Packard 400) was around $3,000 from a shop in the Chicago area, and the waiting list was more than a year long.

I've also heard that someone came up with a way to adapt Chrysler Torque-flite boxes to the Packard motor, but I have no details on this.

[Jeri Conklin]

Pictures posted at http://www.flickr.com/photos/41052016@N02/

If this doesn't work let me know. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt :-)